PROOF THAT 4X4`S ARE USEFUL

[muddy4x4]

Just to clarify the picture, we have a range rover V8, lifted, winched up and generally looks the part. So we could be seen to be intiimidating to other users. We're not bragging, we just want to say that 4x4 users have a valid and useful place on the roads of the uk. Today, we spotted a vehicle which had reversed into a stone ditch on a single track road, unable to pass the vehicle, we used our winch and snatch block to reverse the direction of pull to extricate the stricken car saving the lone driver cash and a long walk. These were not the actions of a few blokes, we are a family of three, Male, female and 11yo boy. We try to help where we can! In the past we have also helped out with car crashes! Just proves that the anti 4x4`s have it wrong.  

[Colin 009]

Well done, :D

Were they ramblers, did they say thanks. :?:

[Lee_D]

Good on you  =D>

Re the Anti's I guess other people unless already of a similar though process just wish they would go away and get a life, pretty much like any Anti's, your either pro or Anti their cause. I figure that given enough rope the Anti's will do a cracking job  :roll:



Lee

[muddy4x4]

The driver of the stuck car was an archaelogogist from Wiltshire on holiday. He did say thanks but seemed dazed to receive such prompt help. I think he was fazed by the whole thing.

[snezza69]

I helped out a family in the dead of night when they broke down in the middle of nowhere.  Felt like the good simaritan doing his bit, but it really was'nt that much.  I used an old piece of frayed nylon rope (all I had at the time), which snapped a couple of times.  Got a real tow rope now though!

One more for the cause!

[wing nut]

well done ... i dragged a volvo out of a stream and across a field when he left the road going a little too fast round a blind bend .the front of his car was wrecked .. the police turned up just as we got out  ...dont think he got off with it :lol:

[simdeb]

we recoverd a clio from a lane in lincs, a very red 18 year old lad seemed to think it was a good short cut (he was a farmers hand)

[Sheddy]

I pulled a Mondeo out of a ditch, it was blocking one side of the road with  its back end hanging out.  The driver offered to sue me for further damage to his car.  The filth put him straight!

[Spooky]

My most recent exploit was to extract a horsebox (with two medium sized horses) along with the Renault Meganne(!) towcar from a ditch in Hants.

The 'tail had wagged the dog' due to the mis-matched rig, and the whole lot had spun 180 degrees, half demolishing a road sign in the process.  Amazingly, the horses seemed to take it all in their stride.

[Damonski]

What kind of recovery rope/pole should I be looking to keep in my door pocket?

[sparkes]

I pulled a Mondeo out of a ditch, it was blocking one side of the road with  its back end hanging out.  The driver offered to sue me for further damage to his car.  The filth put him straight!

If that was me I would have walked away.

[Jimbo]

What kind of recovery rope/pole should I be looking to keep in my door pocket?

A 'Yellowstrap' one - speak to DavidLandy on here, excellent pieces of kit.

[Ja1983]

Pickup recoveries:

1 ford fiesta - boy racers should stick to tarmac, not wet fields!
1 vauxhall astra - mates, formely my car! gearbox shagged.

Fourtrack recoveries:

1 corsa - see above for fiesta!
1 kaputt vitara - "the shed" (now not so proud owner of the aforementioned astra!)
2 LR 110`s, water board, rather serious weather... this following the infamous "drifted incident" just a few hundred yards away!
1 tree stump - in the garden, though wonder if... then there was soil/rocks/wood everywhere! :lol:
1 stripped/abandoned fiesta - some chavs had been rallying it but left it at the sumit of a nice hill... so it was gently "head butted" out of the way.

other acts of kindness..

my pickup is used as a dining table/dusbin/seating at many social events. i will also glady assist any other unfortunate individual where i can, as i would hope that someay they would return the favour.  :D

i also remember towing in a ford granada (size of a small dwelling) using my nova SR..... it struggled initially.. but i knew then where my place in society lay :lol:

[Baby_Rhino]

I pulled a Mondeo out of a ditch, it was blocking one side of the road with  its back end hanging out.  The driver offered to sue me for further damage to his car.  The filth put him straight!

If that was me I would have walked away.

I'd have been tempted to push him back into the ditch   he obviously had no manners!

[davidjmiller]

Last time I went out with GLASS CAMBS in the summer we were on a lane over by the Santa Pod race circuit where there was a VW show on. We found a young couple who had tried to drive down the lane for a bit of "privacy" the evening before and they'd had to spend the night in the car. After freeing them from the ruts we ecorted them off the lane where the nice young lad tried to pay us - bless.

What it must be like to be young and in lust again!!!

David

[drmike]

I'd like to help just as much as I'd like to give lifts to hitch hikers but these days I fear it's not worth the risk.

You try and tow the guy out and damage his bumper. His insurer will come after you if he makes a claim. Suppose the rope snaps (as was mentioned) and the car rolls back hurting someone? Your insurance won't usually cover you.

I think it's a sad reflection on society and perhaps me but I think unless I knew them I'd do what I could to help but not put a rope on. That said I drive round with a strap in the Disco 'just in case' - but in case of what I'm not sure!

Mike

[gtomo2]

i will always stop and help the easy way out of a claim is to give the other driver his end of the strap and get him to put it on his car so you have nothing to do with it. Oh and just give it a quick check with your eyes on were he has put it

[drmike]

Not a bad idea about getting the other guy to put the rope on his end - still doesn't address the problem when things when things go tits up and third party damage is caused. I reckon you'll be liable - sad world.

Mike

[Frankie-Boy]

I remember years ago when I was an RAC patrolman, we had to get members to sign a disclaimer before we connected a rope, straight bar or A-bar to their vehicle, not sure about the legalities nowadays.

You could always inform anyone that might in need of help that there could be damage done to their vehicle and you wouldn't be responsible for it, you could even go the whole hog and keep a form in your motor stating this with a place for them to print and sign to say they understand the implications, I don't know how legally binding this would be though.

[thumbs]

i winched me mates integra out of the ditch before christmas, i was sitting in the passenger seat when it went in the ditch  :D

quick lift home and big thumbs recoveary (as me mates call me) was on the seen.

when ever any one breaks down or goes of the road, i get the phone call, i wonder why?

[Bush Tucker Man]

Surely(???) in the eyes of the law (& hopefully the insurance companies?) doesn't there exist a clause like is expected of Doctors & medically qualified persons in certain states of the USA??

That is to say there is a 'Good Samaritan' clause of 'non-liability'????

You have undertaken the act of help (in this case recovery) in good faith & the recipient has accepted in the knowledge that it is simply an offer of help, ie; 'In Good Faith'

Or am I trying to look at this un-cynically???

[drmike]

I'm prepared to bet that there isn't - professionals acting in their professional capacity/competence is rather different to me chucking a flimsy rope on a Porsche in a ditch I'd say.

Also most recoveries are not life threatening while prompt action from trained personnel can save lives which I suspect is the reasoning behind the clause you refer to.

Mike

[Ja1983]

..when ever any one breaks down or goes of the road, i get the phone call, i wonder why?

i know the feeling but at least i get to use my orange flashy light and feel all important! lol (usually get aouple quid/drinks too - bonus!)

think maybe mud-club should draft up a disclaimer, send it to insurance companies and see what their reactions may be?

BTM, sounds like the jist of the disclaimer, anyone want a go?

[drmike]

If I were an insurance compnay and received a letter asking if the enclosed disclaimer would prevent a claim being made against someone attempting a recovery with unspecified training and equipment I fear a snigger would escape me.

Why would they do it? What's in it for them? The recovery damages the car causing 3k of damage. The car is fully comp cover so they have to pay out - they want someone to chase the money off. I assume if a recovery truck does it they'll have insurance cover against such an eventuality so the car's insurers will claim on that.

I'd be interested to hear if you get any reply still less an agreement. Of course, you'd have to get all the insurers to agree as well - try the MIB they might help.

Face it with the way things are if you do something and it causes any sort of damage some b*gger will try and claim against you.

Mike

[colintandy]

:D i just loved every moment pulling a spanish truck up a fairley steep backroad in the ice .....thats usefull !

[Slimer]

:D i just loved every moment pulling a spanish truck up a fairley steep backroad in the ice .....thats usefull !

Especially if you're a spanish truck driver :D
Nice one Colin

[gecko]

how was the cluch after that one

[muddyjames]

i will always stop and help the easy way out of a claim is to give the other driver his end of the strap and get him to put it on his car so you have nothing to do with it. Oh and just give it a quick check with your eyes on were he has put it

What my voluntary group do when we run a show once  ayear and also what I do is carry a piece of paper in my disco saying "any damage caused to any vehicle or any object or person is 100% reliable for any damage / injury caused due to the recovery of this vehicle. I get him to sign and date it and then I sign it too and give a copy to him and one for me.

That way there is no way they can come back on me. If they dont want to sign it then they can wait for another person to help them or pay for a recovery truck.

[Xtremeteam]

doing the rally recovery & pulling  Ã‚£150,000 cars out of where they have landed there is no insurance to cover vehicle damage BUT we always have either the drivers or service crews permission in where its attached to & also they have some input on how it comes out,sometimes though our ways are less damaging than how the crew themselves would do it